Spirit Of St Louis Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chesterfield, Missouri 63005
Monday, May 7, 2007 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated that during a straight-in visual approach, the airplane was high, fast, and above the glide path provided by the visual approach slope indicator. The student pilot stated that he could have performed a go-around but felt pressure by air traffic control to land. He also stated that he felt pressure to comply with air traffic control instructions and to clear the airspace as quickly as possible rather than seek an alternative course of action. During the flare, the nose was lowered and the airplane began to porpoise. He stated that he didn't know what a porpoise was at the time and how to correct from it.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Inadequate flare during landing. The induced oscillation, not performing a go-around, the pilot's lack of experience and the failure to perform remedial action were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/7/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Chesterfield
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63005
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383944N
Event Location Longitude 0903942W
Event Location Airport SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SUS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 462
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1154 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SUS
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 27
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.57
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23128
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office St. Louis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51827
NTSB Number CHI07LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172R
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17281108
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 333.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Skyline Aeronautics LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 776 N Bell Ave
Aircraft Owner City Chesterfield
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63005
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code S52S
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SUS
Departure City St. Louis
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SUS
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 22 2008 8:20AM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08L
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --